W.4
First prototype of Albatros W.IV, No.747
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Albatros Flugzeugwerke
First flight 1916
Retired 1918
Primary user Luftstreitkräfte
Produced 1916-1917
Number built 118

The Albatros W.4 was a German floatplane derivative of the Albatros D.I fighter with new wing and tail surfaces of greater span than the D.I. One hundred eighteen examples (including three prototypes) were built between June 1916 and December 1917.[1] The aircraft operated in the North Sea and Baltic theatres and later served as training aircraft.

The W.4 was powered by the same 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engine fitted to the D.I and based on the same fuselage. The first production series W.4s were armed with one lMG08 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine gun. Later aircraft carried two guns.

Operators

Specifications (W.4)

Albatros W.4 drawing

Data from German Aircraft of the First World War[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
  • Height: 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
  • Wing area: 31.6 m2 (340 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 790 kg (1,742 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Mercedes D.III 6-cylinder water-cooled in-line piston engine, 120 kW (160 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch wooden propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 158–160 km/h (98–99 mph, 85–86 kn)
  • Endurance: 3 hours
  • Service ceiling: 2,890 m (9,480 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 5 minutes

Armament

References

  1. 1 2 Grosz, Peter M. (1995)
  2. ↑ Gray, Peter; Thetford, Owen (1970). German Aircraft of the First World War (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 54-58. ISBN 0-370-00103-6.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albatros W.4.
  • Green, W. & Swanborough, G. (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-85833-777-1
  • Herris, Jack (2012). German Seaplane Fighters of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Seaplanes. Great War Aviation Centennial Series. Vol. 2. Charleston (S.C.): Aeronaut Books. ISBN 978-1-935881-09-4.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 56.
  • luftfahrt-archiv.de
  • Grosz, Peter M. (1995). Albatros W4. Windsock Mini Datafile No. 1. Berkhamsted: Albatros Productions. ISBN 0-948414-64-2.
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